Duet with a hero
A holiday in Wales led to German being on Welsh television
AWELSH-SPEAKING German has teamed up with a top tenor to launch a search for budding singers from North Wales to perform with their musical idols. Local government officer Hendrik Robisch, from Essen, and singing star Rhys Meirion, who hails from Porthmadog, are looking for music loving dreamers to take part in dazzling duets on the popular S4C television series, Canu Gyda Fy Arwr (Singing With My Hero).
Hendrik, 50, relaxes from his job handling calls from worried farmers about wolves killing their sheep by singing folk songs and encouraging others to learn the language.
He actually took part in the last series of the hit show when he got to sing a duet with one of his favourite Welsh musicians, Gwilym Rhys Bowen.
According to Hendrik, it was such a wonderful experience that he wants to encourage others to follow in his footsteps and sign up for the third series that will be broadcast later this year.
Anyone wanting to take part or who would like to nominate somebody else needs to contact the Caernarfon-based production company, Cwmni Da, by June 30.
Rhys Meirion said that those chosen to take part in the show get to meet their idol and chat before rehearsing a song and then performing on a stage in front of an audience of friends, family or strangers.
Hendrik Robisch said wolves were re-introduced into Germany at the start of the century and taking calls about them from worried residents is just one of his tasks at work.
“It is varied work taking calls from people who have problems such as wolves killing their sheep. I give advice and sort out their concerns and pass on their details to other agencies,” he said.
His interest in learning Welsh began when he and his wife planned a holiday in Wales five years ago.He was given an online language course to help learn Welsh ahead of the visit as a Christmas present.
He said: “It was a great experience to sing with Gwilym. We met in
Cardiff and Gwilym had already undertaken a project with children with varying backgrounds and languages and they joined us in the duet. It was very uplifting.”
“My friends don’t understand why I have learned Welsh but I think they admire me for it. They think it’s cool,” he added.
Applications should be submitted to Cwmni Da at www.cwmnida. cymru/canu before the end of June 2022. If you have any enquiries before applying please email castio@ cwmnida.tv or phone 01286 685300.